Grotto Point Walk

This return walk out to Grotto Point is in a magnificent area above the entrance to Middle Harbour. The walk provides plenty of views of Middle Head and over Sydney Harbour to the CBD. Many scenic views and some spectacular bushland, so close to the city, makes this walk a gem.

Arabanoo Lookout

Arabanoo Lookout provides great views over Port Jackson, North Harbour and to Manly. The lookout also has some interesting information signs and plarques[1][2][3][4][5] providing information on the significance of the area. There are two large stone seats

at the lookout.
This lookout is named after Arabanoo, an Aboriginal man kidnapped in December 1788, by British marines on Governor Phillips orders. The Governor believed that this was justified as he wished to facilitate communication between the British and the Aborigines. Arabanoo lived in the company of the Europeans until the 18th May 1789 where he died due to smallpox infection.

(0km) Int. Dobroyd Scenic Dr and Arabanoo Trk → Crater Cove Lookout

490 m

10 mins

12m

-19m

Moderate track

From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Manly’ and ‘The Spit’ sign down the hill. The track winds down through bush which quickly becomes heath. The heath becomes short and thins out on the left, before the walk comes to an intersection, with a sign pointing back to ‘Arabanoo Lookout’.Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows ‘The Spit’ arrow along the hillside as it winds through the thick scrub to the start of a boardwalk. The walk leads further around the hillside to the edge of the park and down onto the fenced Crater Cove lookout.

Crater Cove Lookout

From this fenced lookout, vistas far out to sea can be enjoyed, with Middle and South Heads just in view. Many yachts sail past, with the container ships out to sea. This is a popular spot for watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart race, or for watching whales as they pass by Sydney.

(0.49km) Crater Cove Lookout → Bottom of Tania Park track

10 m

1 mins

5m

0m

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk heads up the hill, towards the road and away from the sea. The walk soon comes to an intersection with the Tania Park stone steps on the right.

(0.5km) Bottom of Tania Park track → Grotto Point Engravings track

660 m

14 mins

14m

-38m

Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the Arabanoo Walk, keeping the water on the left. The track continues away from the rock platform for a short time, coming to an unnamed lookout on another rock platform.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the hillside keeping the harbour below and to the left of the track. The walk crosses several separate sections of boardwalk and rock platforms, coming to the intersection with the signpost ‘Castle Rock Beach 800m’.Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Castle Rock Beach 800m’ sign along the bush track and down the stone steps, keeping the ocean to the left. The track winds down the hill until it flattens out at the intersection with a short track (heading to the Grotto Point engravings track) on the left.

(1.16km) Grotto Point Engravings track → Grotto Point Engravings

40 m

1 mins

2m

0m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads down the hill, beside a wooden sleeper, passing an engraving of a kangaroo on the right. The short track soon comes to a large rock platform with the rest of the engravings, and information signs. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Veer right.

Grotto Point Engravings

The engravings at Grotto Point depict kangaroos, fish and what appears to be boomerangs. The engravings are in quite good condition, considering their age. We have already lost so much of this region’s history that historians are not entirely sure if this is the land of the Gayamagal or the Cammeraygal clan. Please take a great deal of care at this site to ensure the longevity of this history. More info.

(1.16km) Grotto Point Engravings track → Grotto Point Lighthouse

660 m

14 mins

5m

-60m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading down the hill, away from the engravings. The track soon heads down some rock step to the signposted intersection of the Grotto Point Lighthouse track.Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the Grotto Point Lighthouse arrow along the rocky bush track, winding down a gentle hill, coming into more dense bush as it winds to the intersection of the Grotto Point Lighthouse and the Grotto Point Cliffs tracks.Veer right: From the intersection, this walk winds down the hill, passing an old, blank signpost. The track wanders through dense bush and along the ridge, flattening out for a while until it drops down another hill towards the end of the point, coming to the Grotto Point Lighthouse.

Grotto Point Lighthouse

Surrounded by a white picket fence, the small Grotto Point Lighthouse overlooks Middle Head. The light was designed in the early 1900s by the architect Maurice Festu to assist ships entering the harbour. Construction started in 1910, with the lighthouse being commissioned on September 1 1911.

(1.82km) Grotto Point lighthouse → Old concrete bunker

50 m

1 mins

1m

-2m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads around the right-hand side of the lighthouse and along the bush track, passing a green post and continuing down some tall brick steps to the concrete roof of an old bunker. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn sharp left.

Maps for the Grotto Point Walk walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-shnp-gpw
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather Forest

This walk starts in the Metropolitan weather district always check the formal BOM forecast or pdf before starting your walk.
http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_weather_danger.php?walkid=nsw-shnp-gpw
Forecast snapshot